Naomi draws back the curtains of the bedroom. The house and yard are finally in perfect silence. She inhales and exhales deeply, tiredness creeps into her body from her lower spine and spreads into her shoulders. She rolls her neck and behind her the bed creaks. Naomi glances over her shoulder as Soraya sits up in the bed.

“Raya, hey, sorry I didn’t mean to wake you up. I just needed to get something to sleep in.”

“Oh no, that’s okay. I was having a weird dream.”

Naomi walks around to the bed and settles down on the edge beside. “What did you dream about?”

Soraya rubs at her eyes. “It was weird, snippets of things, a candle being cut in half, checking cupboards, a burning cigar…curtains being opened.”

Naomi rubs Soraya’s shin gently. “I’m sure it was just your mind processing the evening.” Naomi stands up and with a soft smile. She reaches for the lamp beside the bed and Soraya shakes her head.

“Leave it on.”

Naomi nods and she reaches for the door handle, she opens the door ajar. Soraya begins sobbing. Naomi turns to face her. “What’s wrong, why are you crying?” Naomi walks back into the room and sits on the bed. She pulls Soraya against her chest, running a hand through her hair.

Soraya stills, inhaling deeply. The sobbing slows to a giggle. Naomi releases her and steps off the bed, folding her arms across her chest.

“Did you miss me, Naomi? I missed you and the feel of you, how you smell.”

“I didn’t miss you, not one bit.” Naomi turns to the door and Sarah steps in, shutting the door behind her.

“Sarah,” Sigrid sighs. “You want to know what your problem is? You think you’re so smart.” She raises the wrist with the band around it and snaps it off. Sarah gasps loudly covering her mouth. She turns to face Naomi then chuckles with a smile.

Naomi smiles back at her best friend. “Why don’t you tell us what we’ve done wrong?” She directs at Sigrid. “Was it the protection candle that wasn’t spelled? Or the sudden interest in keeping Soraya safe by having her travel with Stellan? Was it the feast? Or maybe leaving the door open for ‘the wolves’?”

Naomi perches on the edge of the bed. “You know we had a disagreement as a family about who gets to do this. Jackson was a strong candidate but I needed it to be me. Now please, what did we do wrong?”

Sigrid tucks her knees under chin with a sly smile. There’s one little detail you’re forgetting girls,” she insists in a playful tone. “This wristband, a pathetic attempt at creating a protective band? I will be in and out of this body before you can do a single thing. Now you’ve lured me here, what do you want mmh? Insight into my great master plan? Want to know where the vampires body is? Bet you didn’t even know I could do that, take a vampire body. Come closer Naomi, let me show you how I take a hybrid body. Oh and by the way…you look very sexy tonight.”

Sigrid laughs and fluffs up the pillows. She winks at Naomi and pats the bed beside her. Naomi steps forward and rests a leg on the bed, She lifts the slit in the dress and pulls the knife out from against her thigh. The knife that almost killed Jackson. Sigrid laughs again, slowly clapping her hands.

“You're going to kill me Naomi? Or Soraya? She’s, what, your cousin? Go ahead, bury the knife in her chest.” Sigrid drops onto the bed, her arms spread open against the mattress.

“Inhibit me,” Naomi states suddenly. Sigrid snaps up to attention, wide eyed. She narrows her eyes at Naomi then she turns her attention to Sarah.

“What the hell is this?” Sigrid demands.

Sarah shrugs. “It wasn’t a protective band but a binding one that you activated as soon as you broke it. So really please by all means, inhabit Naomi. Take the hybrid queen.”

Sigrids eyes roll closed and then they snap open. She frowns then throws the covers off her body. She attempts to swing her legs off the side of the bed but her body is held tightly in place. She bangs at the mattress screaming her frustration. Naomi holds a hand up.

“Listen to that,” Naomi instructs as Axel’s singing wafts into the room slightly. “No one can hear you scream. No one can hear you cry for help. Now I will only ask you once and then I will kill you, where is the vampire and what are you planning?”

Sigrid drops onto the bed, arms spread open. Naomi walks around the bed and she sits down beside Sigrid. Sigrid laughs as she looks up at Naomi.

“We had a good run you and I…I will miss being on this plein with you. I leave you with only two messages. Did you ever find out what happened to Armon? That might explain the whispers. And your favour will be granted.”

Naomi smooths Sigrid's hair, she offers a small smile. “You know I’ve been reading up on our history. I read up about this ritual where your back is carved into and your organs are removed. I wonder what it would be like if we were to find your actual body, raise you and trap you in your own flesh. Ever wonder what your own organs look like? Probably not, but I’d keep you alive, just enough for you to see them, just enough for you to constantly relive the pain. Just enough for you to constantly know what dying feels like. Where is the vampire?”

Sigrid clenches down hard on her teeth.”He’s hexxed. You might as well kill me, Naomi, I will never tell you where he is. But I will tell you that your precious aeturnum is a liar. You almost shifted tonight but you haven’t undergone the awakening. Ask him about the curse ask him about-”

Naomi holds the knife over her chest and Sigrid falls silent.

“Tell me one thing,” Sarah pipes in from behind Naomi, “whose body did you hitch to get in?”

“Casimir-”

Naomi buries the dagger into Sigrid’s chest, penetrating her heart. She exhales a single painful breath as she remains wide eyed watching Naomi, stunned. “Stupid bitch,” Naomi mutters, “I’m so sick and tired of you getting the last word.”

Naomi takes a step back off the bed with ragged breath. She collapses into Sarah’s arms. Her breathing is heavy and her vision is blurry but Naomi forces her body to settle. She flops down onto the floor, untying her hair and running her hands through it. Sarah settles down beside her.

“Now what?” Sarah asks.

“We wait,” Naomi explains. Her body is aching and weak.

“Are you okay?”

Naomi nods, “anger, adrenaline. It will settle. We’ll need sleep. We still have a full house.

Sarah shrugs “oh I have a simple spell for that. Caffeine.”

Naomi laughs then falls silent. From the open curtains the sky begins to lighten, ever so slightly. As the minutes pass the sky becomes lighter and lighter. Naomi keeps her eyes squarely on Soraya’s body that is still perfectly still.

The room begins to lighten too and the sun begins to creep onto the horizon. Naomi taps her fingers against the floor as Sarah slumps against her side, falling asleep. Naomi forces her eyes open. Watching. The first rays of morning begin to cast light onto the bed covers.

Soraya inhales a deep raspy breath as if she is breathing for the first time. Naomi exhales a low sigh of relief. She nudges Sarah awake and rushes forward to the bed. Soraya looks around her as if uncertain of where she is. Everything begins to settle. She looks down at her chest and curses.

Naomi sits down beside Soraya and watches on as Soraya clasps onto the dagger and rips it out of her chest with a grunt. She drops the knife onto the bed, looking down at herself. Naomi gently places a hand on her knee.

“Hey,” Naomi says deliberately softly. Soraya frowns and Naomi’s heart twists.

“Can’t believe I ruined this dress,” Soraya snaps, “should have changed first. I like this dress.”

Naomi giggles and Sarah follows suit. Naomi pulls Soraya into a hug as Sarah swings the door open. “She’s awake,” Sarah calls out.

END

This brings book 2 to a close. Thank you so much for everyone that has followed along with the story and for those that have been reading and waiting patiently since book 1. My gratitude is eternal ❤️ I can confirm that book 3 is currently underway and new chapters will be posted after a short break. Be sure to follow me for latest updates. Thank you all so much! ❄️